The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-17
KILLED BYLIBERTY'S TORCH.
What Is Done with the Hundreds of Birds
Found by the Bi. Statute.
New York sun.

New York sun.
The Department of Agriculture makes it
obligatory upon light-housekeepers to render
periodical reports upon blanks prepared for the
purpose, of all members of the featherec trib
who meet their death by flying against the
lights.
About a month ago. one stormy night. nearly
], 400 birds of various species were picked up on
the balcony of the Statue of Liberty torch and
near the base of the pedestal. Before this no
particular account had been taken of these VIC
tins to curiosity, the officials of the island dis
posing of them in any way they saw fit. many,
it is said. being sold to millners and fancy
stores in this city. But upon this occasion
Colonel Tassin, who is in military command
of the island. having made inquiry about the
birds, and being unable to find any trace of
them, determined to apply to the authorities in
Washington with the view of having the light t.
house regulations on this head applied to the
Liberty light He successful. and for the
past month the matter mas been very carefully
looked after. To Sun reporter yesterday
Colonel Tassin said:
II had heretofore received many letters from
all sorts of people offering to buy the birds
which were killed in this way. But l believed
they were public property and that l had no
right to dispose of them. [ thereupon insti-
tied the government system of records which
followed with military regularity.
Every morning l go to the guard-house and
overlook the birds collected by the men. clas-
sify them we'll as I can, and gather all the
information called for by the monthly report
This includes the name of the bird. date, hour
Of striking, number striking, number
killed, direction and force of the wind character
Of the weather, and general remarks. When
have collected about 200 specimens send them
to the Washin gton National Museum. the Smith
sonian Institution, and other scientific institu-
tions. where l know they wanted. | have
received several letters from the Washington
authorities and others warmly thanking me
for my action in the matter. The information
has proved of much value, they tell me, in many
instances, and it is only to be regretted that
ligh-tho keepers generally do not carry out
with much more care the provisions OF this gov
ernmental regulation.
'.As to the number and species Of birds which
killed by the statue my October record shows
a very large total; larger, doubtless, than any
other light in America The commonest bird
killed is a species Of wren, of which don't know
the name. but which closely resem bles the Balti-
more orole. There are few large or very rare
birds. and the English sparrow, SO common in
this way. He is too well accustomed to
the electric glare of city life. On Oct 1
the record shows there were fifty rails,
eleven wrens, two cat birds. and one whippoor
will; on the second. two wrens; the third, eight
wrens. and so on, the average being about TWEEN
ty birds per night. although the character of
the weather, the direction Of the wind. etc. has
a great deal do with the matter On clear
nights there are none. very few, but on dark
nights the harvest is very large. On the 18th
instant, It's wrens were gathered in. although it
was not a particularly dark windy night /
have sent to Washington for the correct name
of this bird. and expect an answer in a few days.
The birds l send TO Washington are prepared
for shipment by Mr.. VIM. Deutcher, in New
York